Let Them Eat Cake: Trends in wedding cakes and desserts

Published 3:43 pm, Monday, October 25, 2010

(Courtesy Make Me a Cake Next Door; photo by Casey Connell Photography)

(Courtesy Make Me a Cake Next Door; photo by Casey Connell Photography)

Image 2 of 3

(Courtesy Make Me a Cake Next Door; photo by Casey Connell Photography)

(Courtesy Make Me a Cake Next Door; photo by Casey Connell Photography)

Image 3 of 3

(Courtesy Cakes By Kathy)

(Courtesy Cakes By Kathy)

Photo: Picasa 2.7

Let Them Eat Cake: Trends in wedding cakes and desserts

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

Your wedding day is one of those rare, blissful times when you can indeed have your cake and eat it, too. But first you need to decide the type. Wedding dessert options have gone way beyond the traditional white tier cake with a couple perched atop. Couples are opting for everything from coffee and cappuccino bars to signature dessert cocktails and cake walks where guests meander through a "maze" of different selections. Even with all those options, though, most couples still choose to observe the cake cutting ceremony and want a special, sweet treat to share with their guests.

"I think what people really enjoy about the slicing and sharing of the wedding cake is that it is something all the guests can admire and enjoy and they can also get a piece of it," says Kathy Kosto, owner of Cakes by Kathy in Schodack of this long-standing tradition. Here are some of the latest trends:

Color Me Cakes

Just as bridal dresses now include slight color accents that help pull together the wedding party's attire, so, too, can the dessert echo colors from, say, the bride's taupe or purple sash. "We did a pearl white cake and the ties of the wedding were an apple green, so around each tier of the cake was an apple green ribbon. Their initials were up top. And that was it, simple. It was gorgeous," says Dan Casey, an owner, with Brendan McCann, of Make Me a Cake Next Door in Delmar.

Not all wedding cakes are frosted white, either; Kosto has made a chocolate cake with green accents to coordinate with the wedding party and their cookie favors.

Flowers Everywhere

Wedding cake can be used as a decorative focal point that helps pull wedding details together. In contrast to the "gaps" and large columns that once separated wedding cake tiers, Casey says today's cakes are stacked. Because of this, decorations can be simple flourishes, such as a spray of flowers that reflects the table arrangements. "I always say the simpler you go, the prettier it looks," says Casey.

Thinking Local

Today's couples care about what goes into the cake, too. Casey and McCann use local products as much as possible in their cakes and pies. "We're doing a lot of organic cakes, too," says McCann. In addition to organic, Make Me a Cake also creates sugar-free, vegan, gluten-free and yoga diet cakes. "We can do anything as long as we have enough notice," says McCann.

Kosto worked with a couple that wanted to take advantage of seasonal, local produce. "They were getting married in the summer; there was a relative who owned a berry farm. They ordered a simple butter vanilla cake and it was all about decorating with the berries."

Downsizing Dessert

The alluring and adored cupcake make it an appealing choice for couples that want a less traditional dessert. Cupcakes on cupcakes stands also allow for more imaginative display options. "A lot of the brides say 'well, everyone gets to have their own cupcake.'," says Casey. "They go with three different flavors, so they have more options."

Seasonal Sensibilities

"The seasons can definitely play somewhat of a factor in the overall look of the cake and taste of the cake," says McCann, who has taken apple and pumpkin pie, as well as pumpkin cupcake orders, for fall weddings. For outdoor summer brunch receptions, Correale says that strawberry shortcake dessert is a refreshing change of pace. When couples do offer their guests other options besides the traditional cake, Casey says they still typically order a small 6-inch cake for the cutting ceremony and photograph.